Prognostic impact of phosphorylcholine expression in nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae in otitis media with effusion.
CONCLUSIONS
The expression of phosphorylcholine (ChoP) in the surface of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is an important factor in the pathogenesis of persistent otitis media with effusion (OME) in humans.


OBJECTIVE
Lipooligosaccharide (LOS) in NTHi undergoes phase variation in expression of the ChoP epitope. In this study, we examined the phase variation of NTHi isolated from the nasopharynx of children who suffer from OME, and investigated the relationship between the phase variation and the pathogenesis of OME.


METHODS
Forty NTHi strains were isolated from the nasopharynx of children with OME, and the ChoP expression of NTHi was examined by colony immunoblot analysis. The NTHi strains were classified into three groups according to the level of ChoP expression, i.e. strong, moderate, and weak expression groups. An adherence assay was also performed.


RESULTS
The NTHi strains expressing ChoP(+) LOS glycoforms accounted for 63% of all NTHi tested. Clinically, the strong expression group of ChoP were related to prolongation of the duration of OME. The adherence assay with the CCL 20.2 cell line revealed that the strong expression group attached more easily to the cell surface than the weak expression group.
Fujita
Keigo
K
Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Oita, Japan.
Hirano
Takashi
T
Kodama
Satoru
S
Suzuki
Masashi
M
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000382:microbiology*; D010767:Phosphorylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies
D015415:Biomarkers; D010767:Phosphorylcholine